Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Different Takes: How To Reopen Schools Safely And Soon; Help Guide Student Athletes Who Won't Be Playing Sports
Boston Globe: It’s Time For A Safe Return To Campus
New England colleges and universities are admired for their ability to marshal smart minds to tackle complex problems. This capacity has been evident throughout the coronavirus pandemic, as their research, teaching, and commitment to public service have demonstrated what they do best — chart new paths in the face of uncertainty. Analysis by the New England Board of Higher Education, an organization supporting students and institutions in the region, indicates that 65 of New England’s colleges and universities plan to provide on-campus and in-person instruction this fall. Ninety-eight will provide a hybrid of in-person and virtual learning, while 35 will support students all virtually. Each institution’s decision was made in response to the risk factors it faces as leaders do their best to respond to this unprecedented health emergency. We recognize the importance of colleges and universities, both public and private, in the region that will reopen campuses in the coming weeks. These institutions have thoughtfully crafted plans for reopening that, while subject to some risks, will allow them to provide significant benefits to students, institutions, communities, and economies. (Members of The New England Board of Higher Education, 8/14)
Los Angeles Times: How We Can Get Kids Back To School Safely During The Pandemic
Tuesday is the first day of school for nearly 700,000 students in Los Angeles Unified. Not one of them will be in a classroom. They need to be, for both educational and social reasons. But the question is how to get students back to school safely. Health practices — spreading desks apart, wearing masks, washing hands, using electrostatic cleaning and upgrading HVAC systems — are crucial, but they won’t be enough. That’s why Los Angeles Unified is launching a new effort that, with the support of three universities, a technology giant, innovative testing providers and health insurers, will provide a robust system of COVID-19 testing and contact tracing to serve all in the school community. (Austin Beutner, 8/16)
USA Today: COVID-19 Impact On Sports Causes Identity Crisis For Athletes
As the Big Ten and Pac-12 postpone their fall season, football players are speaking out, saying they want to stick to their normal routines and keep playing, in spite of the serious health risks. Take a closer look at the psychology of these players, and you’ll understand why. From the time most of these Division I football players were young, they have dedicated themselves fully to their sport. (Sian Beilock, 8/16)
Detroit Free Press: COVID Cases At College: Why Reopen Fall Semester? Money From Tuition
Colleges that are reopening campuses this fall know they’re bringing a higher risk of coronavirus to their community. The questions aren’t really about if or when, but about how bad outbreaks could be — and whether having an in-person experience for students is worth the cost. With so much at stake, some students, parents and faculty are asking: Why take the risk at all? In many cases, it comes back to money. (Chris Quintana, 8/17)
Detroit Free Press: Masks Or Computers Losing Battle For Michigan Schools
I work with kids. A lot. Many of them don’t speak English. The best tool I have, when we need to communicate, is the three or four inches between my nose and chin, and the two or three inches between theirs.If they don’t understand something, I push up a smile and their smile usually follows. If I see them sitting alone, a frown on their face lets me know if they are upset or just daydreaming. Teeth, lips, observing the formation of words with the tongue and jaw, are all integral to the learning process for young children. Which is what concerns me (among many things) about a return to school during COVID-19. (Mitch Albom, 8/16)
Tampa Bay Times: On The Pandemic, Don’t Cherry-Pick Your Numbers
Florida set a record last week for the most coronavirus deaths on a single day — 277. That’s bad. Yet, the weekly death average has dropped, as have the number of hospitalizations. That’s good. All of those statistics are true and yet each one, taken in isolation, plots a very different map of the pandemic’s course in Florida. So, consider this a cautionary tale: Do not harden your opinion — whatever it is — on dealing with COVID-19, particularly on what schools should be doing. Be open to numbers and facts that contradict your views, and don’t cherry-pick the ones that comport with your own ideas. We have known about COVID-19 for mere months, and our knowledge increases — and changes — by the day. Keep an open mind to new developments and about the best course forward. (8/16)
Austin Statesman: Texas Needs To Set COVID Metrics For School Reopenings
Texas officials got things backwards. They started with the mandate: In-person classes must resume this fall alongside online offerings. Then came the concession to reality: The Texas Education Agency said in-person classes can be delayed if local health departments insist. Now the task rightly falls to local health officials to decide if the coronavirus is sufficiently contained in their community to allow public schools to reopen. Their efforts would benefit immensely if the state established widely accepted, science-driven benchmarks that communities should hit before in-person classes resume. (8/17)
WBUR: The Mass. Legislature's Climate Bills Are Important. But They Wouldn't Do Enough For My Most Vulnerable Patients
COVID-19 is deeply intertwined with the climate crisis. These dual public health threats have forced a new reckoning with our history of racial injustice. My patients, many of whom have been infected with coronavirus over the last five months, are the faces of those who suffer from these converging crises. (Gaurab Basu, 8/17)
